Best Applicant Tracking Systems 2026

Why You Need an ATS

Hiring without an Applicant Tracking System is like trying to manage projects without project management software—technically possible, but painfully inefficient. When you're juggling resumes in your inbox, candidate notes in random spreadsheets, and feedback scattered across Slack threads, great candidates slip through the cracks.

An ATS centralizes your entire recruiting process. Every resume, every interview note, every piece of feedback lives in one searchable system. You can see exactly where each candidate is in your pipeline, collaborate seamlessly with your team, and actually make data-driven hiring decisions.

The best part? Modern ATS platforms have evolved far beyond basic resume databases. Today's solutions offer AI-powered sourcing, automated workflows, video interviewing, and beautiful career sites—all at prices that small businesses can actually afford.

Top ATS Solutions for Small Business

🏆 Best Overall: Breezy HR

Best for: Small to mid-sized teams (10-100 employees) that want visual, collaborative recruiting

Why Breezy HR Wins

• Intuitive drag-and-drop Kanban interface makes pipeline management effortless
• Unlimited users on all plans—no per-seat pricing
• Built-in video interviewing and self-scheduling
• Excellent collaboration features for hiring teams
• Beautiful candidate experience from application to offer
• Great mobile apps for recruiting on the go
• Responsive support and regular feature updates

Core Features

• Visual Kanban-style candidate pipeline
• Branded career site and job board distribution
• Team scorecards and feedback system
• Video interviewing and one-way video assessments
• Interview self-scheduling
• Email automation and drip campaigns
• Employee referral portal
• EEOC/OFCCP compliance reporting

Pricing

Startup: $189/month (3 active jobs)
Growth: $299/month (unlimited jobs)
Business: $499/month (advanced features)

Best For

Teams that value simplicity, visual workflow, and collaboration. Perfect if you want recruiting software that people actually enjoy using.

Not Ideal For

Companies needing heavy AI capabilities or ultra-advanced analytics. Also not the cheapest option if you only hire occasionally.

Read Full Breezy HR Review →

🤖 Best AI-Powered: Manatal

Best for: Growing teams (5-100 employees) that want modern AI recruiting at an affordable price

Why Manatal Stands Out

• AI-powered social media enrichment saves hours of research
• Candidate recommendations based on job requirements
• Exceptionally affordable ($15-55/user/month)
• Modern, clean interface built for today's recruiters
• Chrome extension for LinkedIn sourcing
• Multi-language support (15+ languages)
• Fast implementation—up and running in days

Core Features

• AI candidate sourcing and enrichment
• Intelligent resume parsing (20+ languages)
• Customizable recruiting pipelines
• Multi-channel job posting (2500+ boards)
• Email and calendar integration
• Interview scheduling and feedback
• Analytics and reporting dashboards
• Workflow automations (Enterprise plan)

Pricing

Professional: $15/user/month (15 jobs, 10k candidates)
Enterprise: $35/user/month (unlimited jobs/candidates)
Enterprise Plus: $55/user/month (SSO, API, priority support)

Best For

Teams that want cutting-edge AI features without enterprise pricing. Great for international recruiting or multi-language needs.

Limitations

15-job limit on Professional plan may not be enough for high-volume hiring. Integration ecosystem smaller than competitors.

Read Full Manatal Review →

💰 Best Budget Option: Zoho Recruit

Best for: Budget-conscious small businesses (1-25 employees) with basic recruiting needs

Why Zoho Recruit

• Extremely affordable starting at $30/user/month
• Solid core ATS features without frills
• Integrates seamlessly with Zoho ecosystem
• Decent mobile app
• Free plan available (limited features, 1 user)

Pricing

Free: 1 user, limited features
Standard: $30/user/month
Professional: $60/user/month
Enterprise: $90/user/month

Best For

Small teams on tight budgets, especially if already using other Zoho products (CRM, Books, etc.).

Limitations

Interface feels dated, limited automation, learning curve, support can be slow, not as polished as modern alternatives.

🚀 Best for Startups: Lever

Best for: Fast-growing tech startups (25-200 employees) building strong recruiting operations

Why Lever

• Powerful platform combining ATS + CRM capabilities
• Nurture relationships with passive candidates
• Strong analytics and reporting
• Excellent integrations with modern tech stack
• Great for building talent pipelines over time
• Modern interface and good mobile experience

Pricing

Custom pricing (typically $400-800/month for small teams). Contact for quote.

Best For

Tech startups with ambitious hiring plans, teams that recruit proactively and build talent pipelines.

Limitations

More expensive than alternatives, can be complex for simple hiring needs, requires more setup and training.

🏢 Best Enterprise: Greenhouse

Best for: Larger companies (100+ employees) that need structured, scalable recruiting

Why Greenhouse

• Industry-leading platform for structured hiring
• Comprehensive features covering every recruiting scenario
• Powerful integrations (400+ partners)
• Strong focus on reducing bias and improving diversity
• Excellent analytics and reporting
• Scales to enterprise level seamlessly

Pricing

Custom pricing (typically $6,000-15,000+ annually for small teams). Contact for quote.

Best For

Companies with 100+ employees, those serious about structured hiring practices, teams needing deep analytics and compliance tools.

Limitations

Expensive, overkill for small teams, requires significant setup, steeper learning curve than SMB-focused tools.

🎯 Best for Agencies: Bullhorn

Best for: Staffing agencies and recruiting firms managing multiple clients

Why Bullhorn

• Built specifically for staffing and recruiting agencies
• Manage multiple clients and contracts
• Placement tracking and invoicing
• Extensive candidate database management
• Industry-specific workflows

Pricing

Custom enterprise pricing. Contact for quote.

Best For

Staffing agencies, recruiting firms, RPO providers—not for in-house corporate recruiting.

Feature Comparison

How to Choose the Right ATS

1. Match Your Hiring Volume

Occasional hiring (1-5 roles/year): You might not need an ATS yet. Consider simple tools like LinkedIn or even spreadsheets.
Regular hiring (5-15 roles/year): Breezy HR, Manatal, or Zoho Recruit
High-volume hiring (15+ roles/year): Lever or Greenhouse
Continuous hiring (always recruiting): Lever or Greenhouse with strong pipeline management

2. Decide What Features Matter Most

Visual workflow: Breezy HR (best Kanban interface)
AI-powered sourcing: Manatal
Video interviewing built-in: Breezy HR
Analytics and reporting: Greenhouse or Lever
Candidate relationship management: Lever
Budget-friendly: Manatal or Zoho Recruit

3. Consider Team Collaboration Needs

• How many people will use it? (Breezy = unlimited users; others = per-seat pricing)
• How structured does your hiring process need to be?
• Do hiring managers need easy access?
• How important is mobile access?

4. Integration Requirements

• HRIS: Make sure it integrates with your HR system (BambooHR, Workday, etc.)
• Calendar: Google Calendar or Office 365 integration is critical
• Job boards: Does it post to the boards where your candidates live?
• Assessments: Need to integrate with HackerRank, Criteria, or similar?
• Background checks: Integration with background screening providers?

5. Budget Reality Check

Under $200/month: Zoho Recruit, Manatal Professional
$200-500/month: Breezy HR, Manatal Enterprise
$500-1000/month: Lever (small team), BambooHR ATS add-on
$1000+/month: Greenhouse, Lever (larger team)

6. Think About Candidate Experience

Your ATS represents your employer brand. Does the career page look modern? Is the application process mobile-friendly? How do candidates receive updates? Test the candidate-facing experience before buying.

Common ATS Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Buying Before You're Ready

If you hire 1-2 people per year, an ATS is overkill. Wait until you're hiring at least quarterly.

❌ Choosing Based on Features Lists

More features ≠ better. Choose based on the features you'll actually use regularly.

❌ Ignoring User Experience

A powerful ATS nobody wants to use is worthless. Prioritize ease of use, especially if your team isn't technical.

❌ Not Testing With Your Team

Get your hiring managers and recruiters involved in demos. They'll be using it daily—make sure they like it.

❌ Overlooking Mobile

Recruiters and hiring managers work on mobile. A clunky mobile experience kills productivity.

❌ Forgetting About Support

When things break (and they will), responsive support is critical. Read reviews about customer service quality.

The Bottom Line

For most small businesses (10-100 employees): Breezy HR hits the sweet spot. It's intuitive, collaborative, includes video interviewing, and has unlimited users at a predictable price. The visual pipeline makes recruiting genuinely enjoyable.

If you want cutting-edge AI on a budget: Manatal delivers impressive AI features at just $15-35/user/month. The social enrichment and candidate recommendations save significant time.

If you're growing fast and building a recruiting machine: Lever or Greenhouse provide the power, analytics, and scalability you need, though at higher price points.

If budget is your primary concern: Zoho Recruit or Manatal Professional offer solid core ATS features without breaking the bank.

Whatever you choose, moving from email and spreadsheets to a proper ATS will transform your hiring process. You'll move faster, make better decisions, and create a far better experience for candidates.